Collins English-English Dictionary

year [jɪə]

1. 1. n civil year the period of time, the calendar year, containing 365 days or in a leap year 366 days. It is based on the Gregorian calendar, being divided into 12 calendar months, and is reckoned from January 1 to December 31

2. 2. n a period of twelve months from any specified date, such as one based on the four seasons

3. 3. n a specific period of time, usually occupying a definite part or parts of a twelve-month period, used for some particular activity

   a school year

4. 4. n the period of time, the sidereal year, during which the earth makes one revolution around the sun, measured between two successive conjunctions of a particular distant star: equal to 365.25636 days

5. 5. n astronomical year tropical year the period of time, the solar year, during which the earth makes one revolution around the sun, measured between two successive vernal equinoxes: equal to 365.24219 days

6. 6. n the period of time, the lunar year, containing 12 lunar months and equal to 354.3671 days

7. 7. n the period of time taken by a specified planet to complete one revolution around the sun

   the Martian year

8. 8. n [plural] age, esp old age

   a man of his years should be more careful

9. 9. n [plural] time

   in years to come

10. 10. n a group of pupils or students, who are taught or study together, divided into classes at school

    they are the best year we've ever had for history

11. 11. n [Etymology] Old English gear; related to Gothic jer, Old Saxon, Old High German jar, Old Norse ar year, Polish jar springtime, Latin hornus of this year

12. 12. n [Usage] In writing spans of years, it is important to choose a style that avoids ambiguity. The practice adopted in this dictionary is, in four-figure dates, to specify the last two digits of the second date if it falls within the same century as the first: 1801--08; 1850--51; 1899--1901. In writing three-figure bc dates, it is advisable to give both dates in full: 159--156 bc, not 159--56 bc unless of course the span referred to consists of 103 years rather than three years. It is also advisable to specify bc or ad in years under 1000 unless the context makes this self-evident